Nothing beats the taste of fresh, homegrown lettuce and leafy greens. With proper planning, you can enjoy fresh salads almost year-round.
Best Varieties to Grow
Lettuce Types:
- Buttercrunch - heat tolerant and sweet
- Romaine - crisp and perfect for Caesar salads
- Loose-leaf varieties - harvest individual leaves
Other Leafy Greens:
- Spinach - nutrient powerhouse, loves cool weather
- Arugula - peppery flavor, grows quickly
- Kale - superfood that gets sweeter after frost
Succession Planting Strategy
Plant new seeds every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. This prevents having too much ready at once and extends your harvest season.
Spring Planting: Start as soon as soil can be worked Summer Strategy: Use shade cloth and heat-tolerant varieties Fall Gold: Plant 10 weeks before first frost for best flavor
Growing and Harvesting Tips
Cut-and-Come-Again: Harvest outer leaves, let center continue growing
Bolt Prevention: Provide afternoon shade in summer, keep soil moist
Pest Management: Row covers protect from flea beetles and aphids
Storage: Harvest in morning, wash and store in damp paper towels
With these techniques, you'll never buy expensive salad greens again!
